The government is formulating a policy framework to address the dangers posed by rising sea levels, as environmental activists raise fresh concerns about the risks of groundwater-induced flooding.
An environmental activist has filed a grievance via the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) public grievance website, warning that research indicates rising sea levels could drive groundwater levels higher, potentially causing floods from beneath.
The grievance was filed by NatConnect Foundation’s director, B. N. Kumar, who drew attention to new research findings from New Zealand highlighting the alarming impact of rising sea levels on groundwater levels. “Hence, it is high time that disaster management authorities brace themselves for floods from beneath the inlands,” Kumar stated in his filing.
A new research paper focused on the coastal city of Dunedin, New Zealand, warns that sea level rise could significantly alter groundwater levels, increasing the risk of inland flooding. South Dunedin already experiences periodic flooding, which is expected to become more severe as sea levels continue to rise. The researchers describe the city as a “poster child” for communities adapting to climate change and rising seas.
Responding to the grievance, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) acknowledged the concerns. “This Ministry acknowledges and appreciates the concerns raised by the applicant regarding rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and declining coastal groundwater tables,” said Arvind Kumar Agrawal, Director – Impact Assessment (IA), in an official response. He confirmed that these issues would be considered while developing the Ministry’s policy framework on climate adaptation.
The research findings, published in a science magazine by AGU, a global community supporting over half a million Earth and space science professionals, reinforce the urgent need for conservation efforts. Kumar emphasized the necessity of preserving wetlands, describing them as “urban sponges” that can mitigate flooding risks. “These findings reinforce our longstanding demand to conserve our wetlands, which act as urban sponges and save the river floodplains,” he said.
He further stressed the importance of maintaining natural water expansion spaces instead of encroaching on them for infrastructure development. “It is high time that the government braces itself for the twin dangers of rising sea levels and floods from groundwater rather than inviting disasters with anti-environment policies and taking ecological threats lightly,” Kumar warned in his grievance.
With the government now working on a policy framework to tackle these environmental challenges, activists and researchers hope for proactive measures to mitigate the potential threats posed by rising sea levels and groundwater-induced flooding.
